| Experience the thrill of racing before | | | | with the other cars out on the track. |
| shelling out any big bucks. And no, that | | | | However, passing of slower cars is usually |
| doesn't involve going to the local Porsche | | | | allowed on the straights, and you can still |
| dealer and telling them "I'll just take it | | | | push your car up to the limits. Just keep in |
| around the block." But there are test | | | | mind you don't want to have to explain to |
| programs available where you can drive a | | | | your insurance agent how your car |
| vehicle that will accelerate 0-60 in under 4 | | | | mysteriously ended up on top of a tire wall |
| sec and pull up to 2.5Gs in the corners. Or | | | | at the local racetrack.The great thing about |
| experience the thrill of a 300 hp dragster | | | | this kind of program is that you can get some |
| for under $20 bucks. When it comes to | | | | real track time for generally under $100. |
| getting a taste of racing without having to | | | | Check with your local track to see what they |
| go out and buy your own race car, you have a | | | | offer.Jet Fighter On 4 Wheels - Racing Kart |
| number of options to choose from. We'll | | | | ProgramsNow we're talking about some real |
| cover them starting with least expensive and | | | | racing action - racing karts! No, these are |
| working our way up.Your Local "Fun" Kart | | | | not your old steel tube, square-framed |
| TrackMost cities have an outdoor or indoor | | | | backyard go karts (and we don't use "go" any |
| concessionary-type go kart track where you | | | | more) with a lawn mower engine. Today's |
| can take a kart around for a few laps for | | | | racing karts are constructed with many of the |
| just a few bucks. Although these karts are | | | | same high tech materials and technologies as |
| not the fastest in the world, they'll still | | | | full-size race cars, and with the exception |
| give you the basic idea of racing around the | | | | of top speed, performance capabilities can |
| track along with some friendly competition | | | | rival a modern-day Indy car (as in 0-60 in |
| from the other patrons.This can be a great | | | | about 3 sec. and 2.5 G's in the turns).With |
| place to start if you have a kid who wants to | | | | some Intro classes beginning as low as $99 |
| get into racing but has never driven | | | | with all equipment provided, you will find no |
| anything. The main thing to check for kids | | | | other "newbie" racing programs that even come |
| before you head over to the track is to call | | | | close to the exhilaration experienced in a |
| ahead and see what kind of minimum age or | | | | current generation racing kart for such |
| height requirements they may have. Other | | | | little cost. A school like Go Faster Racing |
| than than that, the karts all have bumpers | | | | Kart School in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is |
| and are very safe, so they make for a great | | | | a perfect example of a kart school offering |
| starting point for kids.If you are fortunate | | | | just such classes for those wanting to get a |
| enough to live near a major city that has a | | | | real taste of what racing is all about.A |
| Speed Zone, Malibu Grand Prix or similar | | | | half-day class in one of their Veloce 125cc |
| racing-type theme park, then you even have | | | | racing karts will give you a workout like you |
| the option of testing out drag racing in a | | | | wouldn't believe, but you'll leave with a |
| controlled environment. Speed Zone's Top | | | | grin the size of Texas and dreaming about how |
| Eliminator dragsters are 300 hp machines | | | | fast you can get back out on the track. |
| capable of 0 to 70 in under 3.5 seconds and | | | | There are many similar kart schools around |
| pull 2.5 G's. Not only that, their tracks | | | | the country, so just check with your local |
| are set up to race four at a time! (The cars | | | | kart track or club to see what's available in |
| are attached to a centerline rail, of course, | | | | your area. For the money a racing kart class |
| to keep everyone from flying into each | | | | will give you the closest feel to what real |
| other.) You won't find that at any local | | | | racing is like, so I give this option my |
| drag strip. And with current prices around | | | | highest "Ultimate Test Drive" |
| $12 for three runs, it is no doubt the most | | | | recommendation.The Real Deal: Full-Blown |
| fun you could have in anything race-related | | | | Racing SchoolNow, if you are dead set on |
| for less than the cost of feeding your family | | | | jumping right into a full-size race car, then |
| at McDonald's!Auto Maker Driving Clinics & | | | | there is obviously no substitute for actually |
| PromotionsAlthough these can be hit or miss | | | | driving one for your test drive. Most road |
| as far as timing goes to catch one, many | | | | course tracks have an associated racing |
| times through the year automakers will host | | | | school that offers half day, full day and |
| special driving events to highlight their | | | | multi-day classes for drivers. Also, your |
| latest and greatest automobiles. And the | | | | local SCCA chapter usually has driver classes |
| great thing about them is that the car is | | | | scheduled at various times throughout the |
| provided and the cost is usually minimal or | | | | year, but the race car may or may not be |
| even free!Mazda's Rev It Up is a great | | | | provided.A half-day class at a local racing |
| example of this kind of program. The Mazda | | | | school is probably your best bet when it |
| event is a weekend driving school and | | | | comes to taking your ultimate test drive. |
| competition in the new Mazda 3 at locations | | | | Once again most schools will provide all your |
| throughout the US over the course of the | | | | safety equipment so you just show up and |
| year. For about $40 you get a | | | | drive. You can expect half-day classes to |
| high-performance driving school clinic and | | | | average around $500. For your money you will |
| then a chance to post your time on a parking | | | | generally get classroom instruction covering |
| lot autocross course for a nationwide | | | | the basics of operating the racecar, learning |
| competition. Not a bad deal.Another example | | | | the "racing line" around the course, gear |
| is from the 2004 Indy Racing League Chevy 500 | | | | selection into and out of the corners, |
| at Texas Motor Speedway. Chevy gave the | | | | braking points, corner entry and exit points |
| opportunity to race fans to take their new | | | | followed by some lap sessions and coaching |
| Chevy Avalanche for a 70 mph three lap cruise | | | | out on the track.With a typical "school" race |
| around the high-banked track of Texas Motor | | | | car in the 130 to 150 hp range and capable of |
| Speedway. All you needed was a valid drivers | | | | speeds well over 100 mph, you'll definitely |
| license and each fan got to hop in by | | | | have your hands full as you begin to learn |
| themselves for three laps behind a pace car. | | | | some new concepts in driving like heel and |
| And best of all - it was free! Where else | | | | toe downshifting and threshold braking. For |
| could you walk in off the street and get to | | | | a couple of excellent web sites on racing |
| drive in someone else's car on a | | | | schools try or Time To Go Race!Hopefully, |
| Superspeedway normally reserved for NASCAR | | | | you've gotten a good idea of your options for |
| and the IRL!?Unfortunately, these types of | | | | hopping in a race car before sinking a lot of |
| events are few and far between, but they're | | | | your hard-earned money into the sport. You |
| out there. Keep your eyes open for one, and | | | | may find the type of racing you thought you |
| the opportunity just may pop up.Out of Your | | | | were interested in is not what you expected |
| Garage & On To The TrackThe next step up, but | | | | after taking a "test drive." Much better to |
| still very affordable - your own car at a | | | | find out now than after having bought a race |
| local racetrack. Many local tracks have | | | | car.However, for most people, I highly doubt |
| special times around their regular racing | | | | that will be the case. In fact after the |
| sessions when you can take your own car out | | | | first ride, you'll probably be so hooked, |
| for a spin around the track or run down the | | | | there is no turning back. So, get out there, |
| drag strip.Normally the only special | | | | find a local racing series and Go Racing |
| requirements are to have a Snell-approved | | | | Now!Larry Lenamon is part owner of a high |
| helmet and then sit through whatever basic | | | | performance racing kart school, avid racing |
| driver orientation class they may have. | | | | fan, and classic car restorer, along with |
| Thus, no special equipment on your car is | | | | having a professional career as a pilot and |
| needed - just show up with most any street | | | | aerospace engineer for a major U.S. airline. |
| legal vehicle(probably not the Suburban or | | | | His website is an online resource for getting |
| Grandma's station wagon) and you're set.For | | | | started in racing, racing sponsorship, |
| road courses you'll probably be warned | | | | alternatives to racing sponsorship, racing |
| against any full-blown head-to-head racing | | | | schools, racing skills and more. |